MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves can clinch their first playoff series victory on Friday when they host the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of their Western Conference first-round series at the Target Center.
The Timberwolves, who were bounced in the first round of the playoffs the last seven years, grabbed a commanding 3-1 lead with an 84-82 triumph on Tuesday.
Kevin Garnett collected 27 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, which held Denver to less than 36 percent shooting.
The Nuggets had a chance to tie the game after Latrell Sprewell missed two free throws with 12 seconds left, but Andre Miller - defended by stopper Trenton Hassell - missed a pull-up jumper and Voshon Lenard missed a wild follow shot.
Star Nuggets rookie Carmelo Anthony scored just two points on 1-of-16 shooting, sprained his left knee in the third quarter and was benched midway through the fourth. He is questionable for Game Five.
After the game, Sprewell and Denver's Jon Barry got in each other's faces and had to be separated.
MEANINGFUL MATCHUP: Lenard vs. Hassell. Lenard scored 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including 6-of-7 from the arc. Hassell did an amazing job defensively on Anthony, and if the star rookie is out, he likely will be asked to guard Lenard, the Nuggets' best perimeter threat and the Shootout winner during the All-Star break.
WHO'S HOT:
Timberwolves: Garnett continues to dominate the Nuggets, as he did the rest of the league this season. He is averaging 25.3 points and 14.8 rebounds through four games.
Nuggets: Lenard is averaging 17 points in just under 30 minutes a game in the series.
WHO'S NOT:
Timberwolves: C Michael Olowokandi has a total of just 14 points and 11 rebounds in the first four games. He was held scoreless in Game Four.
Nuggets: Barry is averaging just 3.5 points in 18.5 minutes off the bench.
STREAKS: The Nuggets snapped the Nuggets' seven-game home winning streak in Game Four.
SEASON SERIES & HISTORY: Minnesota has won six of the team's eight meetings this season.
INJURIES:
Timberwolves: G Troy Hudson (ankle) missed the final six games of the regular season and has not played in the series; Wally Szczerbiak (back) will miss the remainder of the series.
Nuggets: F Anthony; F Nikoloz Tskitishvili (ankle) is on the injured list.
